# METHODOLOGY — Neuroinflammation and Neurodegenerative Disorders Database
## Version 2 | 2026-03-19

## 1. Objective
Compile quantitative data on neuroinflammatory biomarkers, neuroimaging parameters and clinical
progression scales for Alzheimer (AD), Parkinson (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to enable
cross-disorder comparisons and support translational research.

## 2. Data Collection Strategy
Tool: Perplexity AI Pro (semantic literature search), January-February 2026.
Cross-validation: all values verified against primary sources (PubMed/PMC, Mayo Clinic, MSBase).

Search terms:
- "Alzheimer biomarkers CSF amyloid tau neuroinflammation meta-analysis"
- "Parkinson alpha-synuclein NfL UPDRS progression"
- "Multiple Sclerosis T2-FLAIR lesions EDSS biomarkers"
- "neuroinflammation cytokines IL-6 TNF-alpha neurodegenerative"
- "clinical trial neuroinflammation 2020-2024 phase III"

## 3. Inclusion Criteria
- Meta-analyses and systematic reviews (preferred)
- Randomized controlled trials (RCT)
- Prospective cohort studies with n >= 100
- International health organization reports (WHO, PMC/NCBI, Mayo Clinic, MSBase)
- Published 2013-2026
- Quantitative values with clearly specified measurement units
- Adult populations (age >= 18)

## 4. Exclusion Criteria
- Studies with n < 30 (except for variables with limited literature)
- Animal model data (referenced in notes, excluded from main table)
- Values without verifiable primary source
- Studies published before 2013 (except historical milestones in notes)

## 5. Data Categories (89 records)
Biomarkers (CSF/blood): 28 records — cytokines, disorder-specific proteins, pan-neuronal markers
Neuroimaging: 18 records — MRI volumetrics, PET (amyloid/FDG), DAT-SPECT, FLAIR
Clinical progression: 9 records — CDR, UPDRS, EDSS with annual progression rates
Epidemiology: 12 records — prevalence, sex ratios, age distribution, survival
Genetics: 8 records — risk variants with OR and 95% CI
Drugs: 7 records — approved agents with reported efficacy
Clinical trials: 5 records — anti-neuroinflammatory therapies 2020-2024
Economic burden: 2 records — global annual costs

## 6. Limitations
- Biomarker heterogeneity: values vary across labs (ELISA, Luminex, Simoa methods)
- Publication bias: predominantly European and North American study populations
- Emerging biomarkers (NfL, GFAP) have smaller literature volume
- Some biomarkers (NfL, IL-6) are non-specific and elevated in all three disorders
- Ongoing Phase III trials (2022-2025) may update efficacy data